Car-coupling



I (No man. I s Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. 0. BUHQUP.

" OAR COUPLING- i No. 578,313. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

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m: uonms mans co. wrmmno. wunmrou, u. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. 0. BUHOUP.

OAR COUPLING.

No. 578,313. Patented Mair. 9, .1897."

/N VENTO)? ATTORNEY WITNESSES m: uoams PEYERs co. PNOTO-LIYHO.WA$NINGYUN. n. r.

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. H. OQBUHOUP.

OAR GOUPLING.

No. 578,313. Patented Mar. 9, 1'89'7.

WITNESSES: //v

'm ms PETERS 0a.. Pam u wnsnmcn'o UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY o. BUHOUP, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,313, dated March 9,1897.

I Application filed November 14, 1896. Serial No. 612,145. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY O. BUHOUP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference be- .ing had to the accompanying drawings, in [0'which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a coupler and buffer embodying myinvention,together with sufficient of the sill and draft timbers of acar to illustrate the position and operation of the devices, the knucklearranged as for the Master Oar-Builders or twin-j aw type of coupler.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the platform, transversesection of the equalizer of the buffer, and partial section of the post'which connects the equalizer of the buffer and the center stem of thecoupler, also the center stem of the coupler in side elevation. Fig. 3is a plan view of the coupler and its stems, parts broken out, and thecouplerhead in horizontal section, the knuckle reversed to constitute aMiller-hook type of coupler and the head to one side or off the medianline, as required for operation as a Miller-hook coupler. Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section of the coupler-head, taken on the line 3 3,Fig. 3, to show the device employed to hold the wing lock orlockingblock out of engagement when the Master Car-Builders ortwin-j aw.co upler has been set for uncoupdng. Fig. 5 is a View detached and inelevation of the cross-bar which connects the stems of the couplerinterposed between the stems and coupler-head and with which thecoupler-head is detachably and adjustably connected. Fig. 6 is adetached View of the center stem in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a planview of the cross-bar and center stem. Fig. 8 shows a Miller hookdetachably combined with the cross-bar and a pluralityof stems. Fig. 9shows a Master Oar- Builders or twin-j aw coupler detachably combinedwith the cross-bar and a plurality of stems. Figs. 10 and 11 are planviews of single-stem couplers adapted to be used with the reversibleknuckle.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of couplers and buffers, andhas for its objects, first, such a combination of draft and buffingsprings with the coupler-stems as will control the rebound or reactionof the springs after compression, as in buffing, and relieve theplatform and coupler-head of sudden shocks incident thereto, and,second, such a construction of the coupler-head and its adjuncts as willadapt the head to use with either the Master Car-Builders (or twin-jaw)type of coupler or the Miller-hook type of coupler, as circumstances mayrequire.

As is well understood in practice, the coupler commonly performs duty asa buffer, either alone or assisted by supplemental buffers, (as inpassenger equipments,) and as a consequence the spring or springs ofthecoupler-stem, which serve both functions (11. 6., draft and buffing)through'their unrestrained reaction or rebound after compression inbuffing,impart to the coupler-head and platform such sudden and violentshocks and jars or jerks as to often break the couplings,

ing spring, and such a construction or its equivalent embodies onefeature of my invention. V

In carrying out my invention I prefer to combine with the coupler-head aplurality of stems and draft-springs, as, for instance, a center and twoside stems, each stem provided with draft-springs, the center springalone being a buffing-spring, and the side springs so set as to be underslight compression when the center or bufling spring is at rest, (or inits normal position,) and such a construction or its equivalent embodiesa secondary feature of my invention.

Those familiar with railroad equipment are aware that there at presentin service two leading forms of automatic car-couplingsviz., the MasterCar-Builders (M. C. B.) type or twin-jaw and the Miller-hook type-- thatone is a right-hand andthe other a left hand coupler, and that they arein other respects so differently constructed that they can only becoupled together by use of a link, which makes a very dangerouscoupling, especially for passenger-cars.

Many roads which have heretofore used the Miller-hook type of couplerhave now adopted the Master Car-Builders type or twinjaw coupler, and asthe change must necessarily be gradual, and as cars having the MasterCar-Builders type of coupler must frequently pass over lines employingthe Miller-hook type of coupler much confusion arises and trouble isexperienced in mak-' by reason of displacement and loss of theinterchangeable parts, and otherwise obj ectionable as more or less of adeparture from the Master (Jar-Builders lines or standard twinjaw type.To overcome these several objections, I combine with the coupler-head areversible knuckle, which in one position constitutes the hook of theMiller type and in the other the pivoted knuckle of the MasterOar-Builders or twin-jaw coupler, whereby the coupler may be readilyadapted to couple with either a Master-Car Builders or a Miller-hookcoupler, as required, and such a construction or its equivalent embodiesanother feature of my invention.

There are other minor features of invention, all as will hereinaftermore fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that othersskilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A A indicate draft-timbers', and B O the sill-timbers,of the platform and car to which the coupler is attached.

The coupler is preferably one having a pl urality of stems, as, forinstance, a center stem 1 and side stems 2 2, and said stems may bepivotally connected with and coupled at the forward ends by a cross-bar3, though so far as some features of the invention are concerned asingle center stem maybe employed, as indicated in Figs. 10 and 11.

The cross-bar 3 (see Fig. 5) is composed of two plates 3 3 united at thecenter by a web 3, from which projects rearwardly a perforated tongue 3,to which the center stem 1, which has a recess 1 for the reception ofsaid tongue, (see Fig. 6,) is pivoted, said stem 1 having at its otheror rear end a recess 2 for the reception and pivotal connection of thetail-bolt. The cross-bar 3 is also provided at its ends with perforatedbosses 3, which afford pivotal connections for the lateral stems 2 2,and has other and further bolt-openings, whereby the head H is connectedtherewith.

Each of the three stems above noted is provided with a draft-spring, andthe center and strongest spring 1 is inclosed by followerplates 1 1, soas to act as both draft and buffing spring.

Owing to the quick reaction of the strong draft and buffing spring 1after compression in buffing, the rebound thereof is the cause of suddenand severe shocks to the coupler, 850., to counteract which and controlthe re bound of said spring the supplemental draftsprings 2 2 are so setas to be under slight compression (say one and one-half inches) when thespring 1 is at rest, or normal. (See Fig. 1.) Consequently when thespring 1 is compressed in buffing (see Fig. 3) it must in its rebound orreaction compress the supplemental s rin s 2 2 whose resistance reduceand control the quick reaction of spring 1 and prevent any sudden shockto coupler,such as would be liable to cause injury thereto.

In case a supplemental or platform buffer P is desired one may be usedhaving suitable pivoted stems 13, connected by an equalizer E and havingsprings e e interposed between the platform-sill B and equalizer E.

Centrally the equalizer E is provided with a cam-ring 6, within which isa cam 6 carried by a post or short vertical rotatable shaft E, saidshaft journaled in a bracket E secured to the car-sill piece 0. Thelower end of shaft E is provided with a cross-bar e which rests on thecenter stem 1 of the coupler between two pins or projections '6 thereon,so that either the inward or outward movement of the coupler-stem 1 willrotate shaft E in one direction or the other, and the cam 6 will causethe forward or outward movement of equalizer E and thus move the bufferP outward.

Detachably secured to the cross-bar 3,which couples it to the stems 1 22, is the couplerhead H, having the usual guard-finger h andknuckle-ears h, on substantially the lines of the Master Oar-Builders ortwin-j aw coupler. The part 4, which is so constructed as to bereversible in the ears h, has its engaging arm 4 at substantially rightangles to its tailpiece 4 so that in one position (see Fig. l) the part4 occupies the position and performs the function of the knuckle of theMaster Oar-Builders type of coupler, and when reversed (see Fig. 3) itoccupies the position and performs the function of a Miller hook. Thecoupler-head H is slotted at the side and back of the knuckle-ears h(see Fig. 3) to permit the passage of the tailpiece of the knuckle, sothat when the knuckle is reversed to constitute a Miller hook and isreleased by the locking mechanism the knuckle will retate in an oppositedirection from that which it takes when arranged as a Master Oar-Builders type of coupler. This part 4 (combined knuckle and hook) isremovably pivoted on the cars it of the coupler-head, its tailpiece 4moving within the head, and in orderto lock the part 4 when making thecoupling any suitable locking mechanism may be IIO employed. I, however,prefer a locking mechanism such as illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein isshown a modified form of the verticallypivoted spring-actuated wing-lock5, arranged to engage the inner face of the tailpiece 4 and providedwithaprojecting finger 5, which engages a horizontally-slidinglocking-block 6, adapted to engage the outer face of the tailpiece 4",so that when the locks 5 and 6 are in position forward the part 4 willbe held secure whether arranged as for a Master Oar- Builders coupler orfor a Miller-hook coupler, and when said locks 5 and 6 are retracted thepart 4 will be released for uncoupling.

In order to operate the wing-lock 5, it will be provided with the usuallever (not shown) on its pivot exterior to the coupler-head.

In order to hold the wing-lock 5 back out of the path of the tailpiecewhen the part 4 is arranged as a knuckle to operate as a MasterCar-Builders type of coupler, Fig. 1, I provide a pocket 7 (see Fig. 4)in the top of the coupler over the path of the tailpiece 4 and back ofthe advanced position of the wing-lock 5, said pocket or chute open atits bottom, and in said pocket I arrange a looselymoving disk or ring 8,which, when the winglock 5 is advanced or in position to lock thetailpiece of the knuckle, projects through the slot in the bottom ofpocket 7 and rests or rides on the top of the wing-lock 5, but when thewing-lock 5 is retracted to release the tailpiece 4 said disk or ring 8drops in front of said wing-lock and holds it in the uncoupled positionuntil such time as the disk or ring 8 is lifted by the inward or outwardmovement of the tailpiece 4 or is manually raised from without,whereupon the wing-lock 5 will advance to its forward position.

By comparing the position of the couplerheads H in Figs. 1 and 3 andobserving their attachment to the interposed cross-bar 3 it will benoted that where the part 4 of the coupler is arranged to form theinturned knuckle of the Master Car-Builders or twinjaw type of couplerthe head is substantially in line with the center stem 1, and when thepart 4 is reversed so as to project out and constitute the Miller hookthe head is attached to the interposed cross-bar 3, so as to besubstantially on one side of the center line or the line of the centerstem. To permit this rearrangement of the head, I provide thecoupler-head with a plurality of bolt-holes, preferably two, and thecross-bar 3 with a plurality of bolt-holes, preferably two, placedequidistant from the pivot-bolt of the center stem, so that the head Hmay be readily shifted by displacement of two or three bolts. Ifdesired, any other common expedient for shifting the coupler-head oncross-bar 3 may be adopted.

The plurality of stems 1 2 2 and their pivotal connection with thecross-bar 3 will allow sufficient lateral motion of head H to make acoupling when the coupler is arranged as a which it is engaged.

Miller hook, (see Fig. 3,) and the cars can be readily uncoupled bysimply retracting the locking-block 6, which will allow the part 4 toturn back and release the Miller hook with In case, however, it isdesired to use the reversible part 4 with the usual single or centerstem head, as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings, it will befound desirable to provide the stem with a laterally-acting spring 1 tohold the stem up to the central line, and means, as for instance,Wedge-block 2 to force the stem off the center or draft line when thepart 4 is arranged as a Miller hook.

The plurality of stems and interposed crossbar, as well as thecombination of draft and buffer spring with supplemental draftsprings,(see Figs. 8 and 9,) may be combined, if desired, with interchangeableMiller-hook heads, Fig. 8, and Master Car-Builders heads, Fig. 9,without departing from the construction hereinbefore pointed out, andsuch an arrangement may, in some instances, be found desirable,especially while roads are gradually changing from one form of couplerto the other.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a car'coupler, the combination of a plurality of stems, across-bar with which the stems are pivotally connected, and acouplerhead detachably connected with the crossbar; substantially as andfor the purposes,

4. In a car-coupler, the combination of a plurality of stems, the centerstem having a spring subject to compression in either pulling orbuffing,and side stems provided with springs arranged to be incompression to the extent at least of the movement or travel of thecenter spring when said center spring is compressed by either a pullingor buffing strain, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a plurality of stems, and adetachable couplerhead, of an interposed cross-bar with which the stemsare pivotally connected, and a plurality of draft-springs one'of whichsprings is also a buffer-spring, and one or more of which are incompression when the buffer-spring is in its normal condition;substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. The combination of a platform-bufier having an equalizer, acoupler-stem, and an interposed rotatable shaft actuated from thecoupler-stem and which actuates the equalizer to project theplatform-buffer; substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. The combination with the platform-buffer, and an equalizer having acam-ring, of a coupler-stem, and an interposed shaft having a camarranged within the cam-ring of the equalizer, and a cross-bar whichengages pins or projections on the coupler-stem; substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

8. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head, of areversible pivoted knuckle adapted to rotate in either direction, andlocking mechanism for securing the knuckle against rotation, whereby thecoupler may be converted from a Master Car-Builders type to aMiller-hook type of coupler, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

9. The combination in a coupler, of a reversible knuckle adapted foreither a right or left hand coupler, and means for locking the knuckle;substantially as and for the purposes specified.

10. The combination in a car-coupler, of a reversible knuckle, and aplurality of looking devices arranged to lock the tailpiece of theknuckle against movement in either direction; substantially as and forthe purposes specified.

11. The combination in a car-coupler, of a reversible knuckle, awing-lock, and a slid- .in g locking-block actuated by the Wing-locksubstantially as and for the purposes specified.

12. In a car-coupler, the combination with the knuckle and itstailpiece, of a locking device, and a disk or ring arranged in the pathof the tailpiece of the knuckle and back of the advanced position of thelocking device; substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head having a diskpocket over the path of the tailpiece of the knuckle, of a knucklehaving a tailpiece, a lock which engages said tailpiece, and a loosedisk or ring arranged in the pocket of the coupler-head and whichprojects into the path of the tailpiece of the knuckle back of theadvanced position of the locking device; substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

14:. In a car-coupler, the combination with a coupler-head having a slotback of the knuckle-ears for the passage of the tailpiece of a knuckle,ot' a reversible knuckle adapted to rotate in either direction, andmeans for locking said knuckle against rotation, substantially as andfor the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses,this 12th day of November, 1896.

HARRY C. BUIIOUP.

